We’re baaack! And hopefully for good after our return to Blogville following the big move was delayed by a few days last week when Xcel Energy decided to initiate ‘preventive power outages’ after high wind alerts were forecast which added a layer to getting settled after quite the moving day experience (I cannot recommend being up 24 hrs straight on moving day for anyone, much less someone my age-the first few days I was stupid exhausted). It finally feels good to sit at the keyboard in my own home wearing sandals without being surrounded by (a) too many boxes around or (b) having to drive to a nearby bakery to charge devices, filch a WiFi signal to catch up with the world and (c) nosh on scrumptious pastries and drink regular coffee. Notice, I mentioned sandals…we’ve experienced unbelievably warm temps and set a few records. Today we’re looking at reaching another record temp with low 70’s. In December!
I can’t begin to thank the family-owned bakery folks who welcomed me during the power outage and gave me a place to hang out using their WiFi while charging my devices. I told them they could claim me as a tax deduction for all the graciousness that the entire Meyer family provided me. Thanks to them, I wasn’t completely removed from the modern world (at least for a for a few hours a day) but will admit life without electricity is no bueno and definitely not for the faint of heart. I now have a deep and abiding appreciation for electricity that is typically taken for granted. If you’re ever in the Denver area, please go by and enjoy their kindness and tasty confections at Das Meyer Fine Pastry Chalet. Judging by Saturday’s non-stop crowd coming in all morning long to pick up their Christmas cakes and other treats, they are beloved by many in the metro area. Plus they have fresh eggs for $5 a dozen. I haven’t seen eggs that price since forever.
After trading our ‘Ranch’ in for a ‘barn’ (more about that soon), let’s get back to our regular routine and enjoy a smile or three, something we’ve desperately needed these past two weeks.
I couldn’t agree more with these next two smiles. Sadly, both come from personal experience.
However you celebrate this holiday season, we wish this week fills your heart with loads of Christmas spirit and ushers you forward to a wonderful New Year.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
I just found this post in my spam filter. It was in good company — my email decided the library was also too suspicious to pass on.
But I’m so glad you and Wilson are in your new place! How fun! And I’m glad that you’ve got a bakery nearby — very important.
Anyway — congratulations on your new home!
Hee. hee…at least myn post is with categorized with something as illustrious as the library. 😉
We’re getting more and more settled with each day. Spent last weekend building shelving units (that was fun 🙄) and can safely say only the art studio and the garage (a MAJOR project) remain to organize. The landscapers have been busy the past couple of days so the neighborhood is looking more lived in. We’re excited about the future and all the possibilities along the trail. Thank you for your friendship and support in 2025. Wishing you joy and peace in 2026.
Lulu: “We are glad you are in your new place! Home is where the human is, right, Wilson?”
Charlee: “Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us!”
Java Bean: “¡Feliz navidad!”
Thanks, guys. Wilson would have to agree about home being where the human is, Lulu.
Ha, ha, the DNA one really made me laugh. And the picture of you, Wilson, looking out the front door of your new home, melted my heart. Merry Christmas to you and your Mom.
Glad you enjoyed the smiles. Wilson loves the full view glass door…me not so much since it’s always covered in nose art and gets wiped several times a day. LOL From our house to yours, we wish you all a very ‘Fleas Navidog.’ 🎄
We have the same problem with not being able to see out for the nose marks on the glass.
So happy you are moved and unpacked and settling in! Moving is huge, especially this time of year. We’ll be in our new place 6 years next month! I remember it all so well…and yes, that photo of how we actually packed is quite accurate! LOL! And here we are now settled in. Love that pic of Wilson at the door greeting your holiday guests! I wish you and Wilson a very Merry Christmas at your new barn!
Thanks Dorothy. I think moving trauma stays with you forever 😂 I’m doing my best to take it slower. I’m no longer a kid and need to be kinder, gentler so I can help Wilson feel more comfortable in his new life. Sending loads of best wishes for a holiday season filled with joy and peace.
P. S. Yes that one image about packing was me at about 8:30 pm. The movers were there until 1:30 AM 😆
Welcome back mama! And just in time for Christmas!
Glad you are unpacked and electrified once again and wow, you not only had the move to handle, then you had to figure out how to grab some power! Yes, it does make you appreciate the stuff so much more when you don’t have it.
The funnies . . . oh the funnies! That snowman DNA kit is hilarious! The other two? Much too close for comfort, eh?
And to end it with a capture of the goodest, handsomest boy . . . perfect.
Merry Christmas to y’all
Many thanks, sir. You’re too kind. Yes, the move gave me a double dose of humility. Our bandwidth is pretty narrow so we’re opting for a nice quiet day. There’s still a lot to put away and organize but now that I’m at least trying to go easy, I think it will be easier in the long run. Poor Wilson has been pretty much as big a basketcase as I was and he was carrying a lot of stress in his fur. We’re hoping lots of snifarris will heal his heavy load. Our best sheepie wishes for a terrific Christmas! 🎄
Congrats on surviving the move! Wishing you all the best in your new digs. Looks like your new home greeter Wilson is on the job and looking very regal. All the best to you and yours this holiday season.
Thanks, Mike. It’s been a slow slog with the power outages and I’m still recovering from the initial 24 hrs being awake for the move. Murphy’s Law took control of things but we’re slowly starting to see a bit of progress. I can actually begin to find where I put things. LOL
Wishing you, Holly and the Golden Girls a ‘wagnificent’ Christmas!
Thanks M. All the best to you and Wilson and other loved ones for a calm and peaceful Christmas.
Mee-yow what a ruff time youss’ had Miss Monika an Wilson!!! 24 hourss an no sleep?? You are a WARRIOR Miss Monika!!! Wilson wee hope you settlin inn well now. Iss hard to mov! Mee hopess mee an BellaSita nevurr have to move….there was sum chatter a few yeerss ago… nothi so far…
THE meyer furamillee sound pawtastick. Thanx fore keepin inn touch with us.
Yore comickss are brilliant!! There iss alot of MOL/LOL happenin heer!
Wilson yo look ADOORBSS inn yore foto!
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~ an {{{hugss}}} BellaSita Mum
The move was pretty brutal. If I was 25 years younger maybe it wouldn’t have been as rough but dang…I sure aged this past 2-1/2 weeks! 😂
Glad you enjoyed the smiles. They all cracked me up. The moving ones in particular were pretty spot on! Wishing you and BellaSita a totally wagnificent howliday season.
Monika, sooo happy to hear you are feeling more grounded in your new residence. The picture of Wilson is so adorable. Kudos to that Meyer family. Electricity IS a good thing, isn’t it? We had a power failure after a summertime wind storm years ago and didn’t have it for a couple of days. Things needless to say got a little “toasty” then without our electric…and it sounds like things are a bit “heated” for you now when it comes to your weather. At our end, after all of the big mid-December snow melted away, we woke up to another decent coating of the white stuff this morning…and more may be on the way post-Christmas. Pretty cool having some snow in and around Christmas, which we have not had for a while. The cartoons are great…the snowman DNA one is already saved to my phone. Looking forward to Tails Around The Barn in 2026. All the best to you and yours for the Holidays!
Thanks, Bruce. We set a new record yesterday-it was 76F. In December!!
I hope I never take electricity for granted. This world is not set up to do without it (and as it keeps getting warmer, we’re gonna need it even more). The irony is except for the first night, it seemed more windy the week before. Go figure.
Congrats on a fresh coating of white stuff. I have to admit, I’m more than a bit jealous. Temps in the 70’s here seem so weird and out of place. December is not for sandals unless you’re in the southern hemisphere!
Wish you and Mrs. B a blessed Christmas full of peace and joy.
Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday. Love and hugs to you and lots of scritches to Wilson. ♥
We’re always thrilled to be able to join your hops, dear Sandee. You’re so kind and we enjoy such a great blog hop.
So glad you are settled in your new digs! This weather is something else, isn’t it? We’re enjoying every second of it (but sure hope we get some precip soon)!
Happiest of Howlidays to you and Wilson!
Beth and the Girls
It’s the craziest I’ve ever seen! Yesterday we smashed a temperature record-it was 76F! In southeastern Colorado it reached the 80’sF. In December! Sure hope we get some moisture soon. Happy Festivus Day.
Wow, you have accomplished the MOVE! Now to slowly but surely get everything where you want/need it! Wilson looks so cute watching the outside doings from his new observation deck.
Power outs really stink. That’s why we have a generation, it goes on as soon as the power goes out. A wonderful investment…
That bakery sounds like such a wonderful spot! If you get a stollen, do you get one with the marzipan in it?? Those are the best in my opinion. Slathered with butter, LOL! Have a slice for me when you get one!
Yes, we’re in the hard part of completing the move. This house is so different from my old one and it’s hard to configure everything in the space but we’re making a bit of progress everyday and the new shelving will make it easier when it arrives next week. I tried to do too much at first and my back has been reminding me ever since so ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ now. 🙂
Yes, stollen with marzipan is the only stollen I ever get. It’s soooo tasty!
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas season. 🎄
So happy to hear that you survived…effurrything, Monika and Wilson. Moving is exausting, we hope we never have to move again🙈Glad you’re back! Wishing you both lots of happiness in your new home and a Magical Christmas time. Good Luck Pawkisses for the both of you🐾😽💝
Thanks so much for the kind wishes. Yes, I agree with you about moving exhaustion and hoping to never have to do this again!
WOW…..moving is quite an experience in more ways than we care to think about! Throw a holiday in there and it’s double challenging. I know it takes time to settle in but good luck with that AND hope you’re super duper happy in the new place……can’t wait to hear more about it. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas and hope you have time between unpacking, rearranging, to enjoy some “down” time!
Hugs, Pam and Teddy
Thanks so much, Pam. Worst time of year for a move. I am tempering my expectations about being settled by New Year’s and that’s saying a lot for me. Still, I think it’s better to go slowly and help Wilson get acclimated. The stress been pretty tough on him. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! 🎄
Power outages are awful. Great bunch of funnies. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy new year. XO
Thank you, Ellen. Glad you enjoyed the today’s smiles. I sure learned how dependant we are on electricity this past week! Wishing you and the kitties a very Merry Christmas!
I wish you a blessed and beautiful Merry Christmas in your new digs. As for the electricity, I get it, we live in a hurricane prone area and have been without for weeks at a time in the past. Do not recommend.
Many thanks for the kind wishes. Being without power for 3 days really made me much more aware of how helpless we are without power. Definitely not a feeling I want to experience any time again soon. I feel for you during the hurricane season. You’re definitely a brave soul! Wishing you a wonderful ‘howliday’ season.
Welcome back Monika, sweet Wilson already looks at home by your beautiful front door! ❤️ So good to hear you have such a wonderful bakery nearby run by kind people who immediately offered a helping hand. Wishing you both an amazing first Christmas in your new home and a blessed and happy New Year 🤗❤️🐾 xxx
Many thanks, Xenia. I was so blessed to meet such wonderful people at a time when I really needed it. I’ll be a fan of theirs forever. Sending you our best ‘howliday’ wishes for a wonderful Christmas!
So glad you can finally relax, Monika. No electricity on top of moving is a huge degree of difficulty. But you are now stronger.
Let’s hope…mostly I want things to level out for Wilson. Poor sensitive boy…he really let the stress get to him. Wishing you a Christmas full of joy and peace.
Whew what a job! Glad you’re back!
Thanks, Martha. I was supposed to close around the middle of November which would have been much easier to deal with. But it’s in the past now and time to move forward and experience new adventures. Wilson and I send our best wishes for a season that’s merry and bright. Happy Christmas! 🎄
What a sweet floof! I’m so glad the worst is behind you. It’s no fun moving.
Thanks, Kymber. Yes, having the worst in the rear view mirror is definitely comforting. Now if we can just get things put away so we don’t have to wonder “where did I put xyz? The space is so different from our old house so adapting has been interesting. We hope you have a wonderful ‘howliday’ season! 🎄
I hope the same for you, my friend. 🙂
Merry Christmas 🎄 Love the picture of Wilson! ❤️
Thank you. We hope you have a wonderful ‘howliday.’ Hopefully we can finish getting settled soon. It’s been stressful for us both.
Wilson looks darn good in that new doorway. Sorry about the electricity disruption, but I’m glad you made it through. Enjoy the holiday season.
Thanks, Dan. I will never take electricity for granted again. It’s amazing how much you can’t do without it…not to mention without wifi! Have a wonderful ‘howliday’ season. 🎄
Good funnies! I’m glad to hear that you’re back in to the routine stuffs!
Hi Terry, thanks for sending your adorable Christmas card. It’s just too adorable. Needless to say, I didn’t send cards out-there’s just too much to take care of when you move in December.
Glad you liked the smiles. Having experienced the moving ones first hand, I had to share them. And the snowmen DNA one cracked me up. We hope you all have a wonderfully joyous holiday season!
Looking forward to hear more about your move! Das Meyer is in my old stomping grounds, lol.
It was pure hell. Snow and cold and the movers didn’t finish up until 1:30 in the morning. If something could go wrong, it pretty much did. Das Meyer is such a lovely place run by the nicest people. I’ll be going there tomorrow to pick up a Christmas stollen or bread for Christmas morning.
Sorry to hear that, something always goes wrong with even the best planned moves, ugh!
Yup, Murphy’s law was working overtime. 😆
I hope you and Wilson have a Merry Christmas in your new home and lots of holiday joy.
Aww, thanks so much. Wishing you and yours a season filled with joy and peace. 🎄
So, you done your Christmas shopping and sent out all your cards yet? Hahahahah…I am so evil. 😈 So glad to hear you survived the Great Denver Power Outage of 2025 and hopefully the residency at that bakery (I want to go there!!) didn’t put your blood sugar into the stratosphere. We are in for a big rain storm starting Wednesday so that will be heading your way probably in time for News Year. By now Wilson has no doubt hung his four dog stockings on the mantel so you better get busy stuffing them with treats! Have a great run-up to Christmas, I’ll drop a line later this week.❤
Of course I have(n’t). LOL I may not be fully settled until Easter at the rate I’m going. So many things that need to be taken care of-it’s all rather surprising that you have more space but everything is configured sooo differently. I need to put up shelves so I don’t have to keep piling laundry supplies on the floor. Oi…my aching back.
I sure hope some of that moisture arrives. It’s beyond bone dry and several times a day I have to sweep the porch of all the construction dust. 😬 Hope you and Reiko-san have a great ‘howliday.’ 🎄
We’ll be practicing kaizen on a regular basis.
I’m so glad you’re moved and not surrounded by boxes to unpack. I so remember moving here in 2001. We did have a moving company so that helped and we were very organized. You made me laugh with the funnies.
I linked this post to Awww Mondays.
Have a fabulous day and week, my friend. Big hug to you and lots of scritches to handsome Wilson. ♥
Trust me, Sandee…I’m in box and pile hell and likely will be for a while. I foolishly believed I could fill my studio bookcases right away…until one fully loaded one toppled over on me, showering me with a container of CDs and heavy books. That collision added several more bruises-now I’m waiting until my son can add furniture wall straps so I don’t end up getting buried again.
Glad you enjoyed the comics. If we don’t laugh (between the tears) we’ll never enjoy the process or how we got there. Happy Monday, Sandee and thanks for linking us to your Monday hop. You’re the best!
So glad you are back and settled, mostly! The picture of Wilson in the door is adorable, and the cartoons a hoot! I hope you and Wilson have a wonderful Christmas in your new home.
Thanks so much, Debra. We’re trying to settle in and I’m attempting not to be too impatient on getting things all squared away. Wilson has been under the gun with stress picking up my anxiety. My job is to get him comfortable again with new experiences and people. Wishing you, Marley the pups and kitties a merry season full of joy.
Once when I moved, a friend came over to help unpack, and she made me put everything I took out of a box away immediately. Fastest move in ever. I told her she could make a lot of money hiring herself out to folks who were moving!
Those friends are extra special at times like that!
We love that photo of Wilson in the door with the festive decoration! Glad you are moved, now to really settle in and make it your home. Merry Christmas!
Thanks. He loves the full glass doors to watch for when I arrive. Moving was tough; our pantry is still in disaster mode and hope we can figure out how to integrate all my baking supplies in a different space. Sending loads of sheepie Christmas wishes to you all.
Is that a photo of your new house? Lovely especially with Wilson! Bakeries always rule. When we moved we were on first name terms with Subway, the closest food place.
Yes, that’s the front door of the ‘barn.’ 😂 I will be visiting the Meyer’s on a regular basis (once they return from their winter vacay (they shut down for 6 weeks, cleaning, painting and taking a trip to Mexico).
Happy Homecoming! WILSON, you’re super holiday adorable!
Thank you, Ann and June. It’s been an interesting couple of weeks and hope the new routine starts embedding itself in our daily existence. Very best wishes for a holiday of peace and love.
Adorable photo of the Big Floof. So glad the worst is behind you. Enjoy those unseasonable temps!
Thanks, Eliza. It seems so weird to wear sleeveless shirts, sandals and paddle about coatless. It’s not like there are palm trees and sunny beaches here! Sending loads of holiday cheer to you and yours. 🎄
What lovely people at the bakery! Perhaps I should book an Amtrak journey to visit them!
So glad you are settled again – Wilson will be relieved it is all over.
The move was particularly hard on him and he’s quite clingy and insecure. I was so blessed to meet the Meyer family-every single member of the family was kind and helped me get through the multiple outages. They are part of a wonderful community you don’t often get to experience these days. Sending you and The Thugs warm ‘howliday’ wishes, Helen.